And the road goes on and on and on

Nullarbor Plain, Western Australia
@JudyEv (323672)
Rockingham, Australia
May 21, 2018 7:02pm CST
Australia is a big continent and at the moment we are on our way from Western Australia to Melbourne, Victoria, where our son lives. Western Australia is separated from the other Australian states by the Nullarbor Plain which is often described as ‘desert’ but is more correctly termed a ‘treeless plain’. There is miles and miles of spinifex and scrubby grasses but virtually no trees. It is also the site of the longest straight road in Australia which stretches 146.6 kilometres or 90 miles. When first formed the road was gravel and very rough but it is now very smooth although not a dual carriageway. We saw our first wild dingo on this stretch of road but the photo of it that I tried to take through the windscreen was too blurred to be of any use. We will get to Melbourne tomorrow so till then take care and have fun. It is possible to do both. That's our car and caravan in the background of the photo.
27 people like this
30 responses
@LadyDuck (454953)
• Switzerland
22 May 18
A very long road on a flat land with very few trees, the photo gives very well the idea.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (454953)
• Switzerland
23 May 18
@lnillerman I also have done a lot of traveling in many different countries. I have also been on roads like that.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (454953)
• Switzerland
23 May 18
@JudyEv I fully agree Judy, when you drive for hours on those roads it becomes really boring.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
@LadyDuck @lnillerman Such countryside can get very boring after a few hours.
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@TheHorse (203682)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 May 18
Do you set your car on auto-pilot and play bridge?
3 people like this
@TheHorse (203682)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 May 18
@JudyEv What? Not too many Nobel Prize winners or great conductors?
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
@TheHorse We have treated our aboriginal people very badly in the past and Chinese gold-miners were massacred from time to time way back when. But of course we do have a lot of great people like every other country.
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
We wish!! The CD player is broken but we listened to audio tapes - Michael Caine's autobiography and The History of Australia by Manning Clarke. You'd think the latter would be as dull as dishwater but it was surprisingly interesting. White Australia doesn't have much to be proud of apart from our soldiers.
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
22 May 18
Wow! I can only just travel there in my dreams .. Are there many cars or caravans on the road too.. ?.. I wish you safe travel ..
3 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
25 May 18
@JudyEv That's good .. at least it's not a lonely road ..
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
Thanks Bess. There were a lot of caravans and also a lot of very long trucks.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 May 18
I'm sure you'll be happy to arrive at your destination and see your son. I love your picture!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
We caught up with our son tonight which was great. It's been about 17 months since we saw him last.
@BloggerDi (3113)
• United States
22 May 18
What a long treeless road! Interesting! It reminds me of some of the roads in my home state of New Mexico USA. You take care and have fun too. Enjoy the time with your son!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (203682)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 May 18
Makes me think of Nevada.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (203682)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 May 18
@lnillerman I drive faster there than anywhere else.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
Thanks. I know America has some very long straight roads too.
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
22 May 18
It is like driving through the Prairie provinces in Canada. Not much to see except fields of wheat and corn.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
@Starmaiden That sounds worse than the Nullarbor.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
Such scenery can get pretty boring can't it?
1 person likes this
• Canada
23 May 18
@JudyEv You bet! I travelled across Canada in 2008 on a bus. The longest most boring part of the trip was the long journey across Northern Ontario from Sault St. Marie to Thunder Bay. We had to drive all around Lake Superior and the only scenery for a thousand miles or more was water on one side, trees and cliffs on the other.
1 person likes this
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
22 May 18
It looks like it would make for a long trip without much scenery. At least you saw a wild dingo and maybe you will see more.
1 person likes this
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
23 May 18
@JudyEv That's cool. I have never saw one. I'm really not sure what they look like.
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
We actually saw a lot of wedge-tail eagles too. I forgot to mention them.
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
@velvet53 We have a pair that regularly soar around our property but I haven't been able to get a good photo of them. The tail, as you might have suspected, is a wedge shape.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61050)
• United States
23 May 18
That certainly is a long straight road. I hope you are having a great time.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61050)
• United States
23 May 18
@JudyEv You have covered an immense distance. Enjoy your time there.
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
We're in Melbourne now for a bit over a week so that will be nice.
1 person likes this
@rakski (112993)
• Philippines
2 Jun 18
I wonder why there are no trees.
1 person likes this
@rakski (112993)
• Philippines
2 Jun 18
@JudyEv oh okay. Now I know
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Jun 18
It very rarely rains there so there isn't enough water for trees to survive.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
23 May 18
That is a long and lonesome looking road. Are there any stops along the way?
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
23 May 18
@JudyEv That is a good thing.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
Yes, there are road-houses every 200 kms or so. They have fuel and food usually. There are also a number of rest points.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116876)
• Anniston, Alabama
22 May 18
Yes have fun and be careful doing it
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
Thanks. We're in Melbourne now for about ten days.
@Hannihar (129074)
• Israel
22 May 18
@JudyEv Have a good safe trip both ways.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
Thanks. It's going pretty well so far.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129074)
• Israel
23 May 18
@JudyEv Ok. Keep us posted Judy.
1 person likes this
@Bullshark (3479)
• Netherlands
22 May 18
Everywhere you go, always take the weather with you... Alright? Take care, Judy!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
Thanks. It has been drizzling a bit today but Melbourne is known for its dicey weather.
1 person likes this
@Bullshark (3479)
• Netherlands
24 May 18
@JudyEv Do not mention it :) Have a wonderful day!
1 person likes this
@porwest (78726)
• United States
22 May 18
That is quite a long road. In the States I am sure we have similar stretches. Certainly our highways go for hundreds of miles. There are quite a few rural routes that do too, but even some of them intersect in a way that would not make them necessarily straight.
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 May 18
@porwest The Nullarbor gets pretty boring after a while too.
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
I know in US films you sometimes see very long stretches of highway.
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@porwest (78726)
• United States
26 May 18
@JudyEv Yeah. I mean, the highway systems in the U.S. are pretty vast. Many of them go for thousands of miles. But they aren't necessarily scenic.
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (35025)
• United States
22 May 18
You are right. the road goes on and on. I don't think I would like to travel on it. Happy motoring.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
If you just keep on driving, eventually you get to the end of it!
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
22 May 18
That does look rather desolate.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
There isn't much to see over this stretch. The Nullarbor is pretty dull as far as scenery goes.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
@lnillerman On a dark rainy night travelling isn't so pleasant.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58447)
• Philippines
23 May 18
That's a long road and a lot of driving ahead of you. Be safe.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
Thanks. We're in Melbourne now so the long drives are over for a while.
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@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
24 May 18
almost long enough to take a nap behind the wheel. Ha ha ha
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 May 18
I had one or two little naps.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
26 May 18
It's easy to become tired and inattentive when driving on such a straight road for a long time. You can't drink strong coffee all the time!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 May 18
We have found the audio tapes a great help in keeping us awake and alert. And we stop every few hours.
@mlgen1037 (29901)
• Manila, Philippines
22 May 18
I am happy to see you new discussion, Judy. I didnt know how vast Australia can be if you travel it by land. Take care and see you soon.
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 18
Yes, it is a very big country. Thanks for the good wishes.
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@mlgen1037 (29901)
• Manila, Philippines
23 May 18
@JudyEv Always a pleasure, Judy. Australia is love.
1 person likes this